Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) Brsk, (b) Openreach and (c) other broadband providers use existing infrastructure wherever possible when installing new broadband provision.

We fully understand people’s concerns about the excessive deployment of telegraph poles, and are urgently considering options to address this.

Obviously, telegraph poles can play an important role in delivering connectivity to communities and competition between providers can offer consumers greater choice and cheaper rates, but it is vital that operators share infrastructure wherever possible in the interests of local communities.

The law already provides for this. The Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 require operators to share infrastructure where practicable, and the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 made it easier for operators to upgrade and share existing apparatus.

In addition, providers can also use the Communications (Access to Infrastructure) Regulations 2016 (“the ATI regulations”), which are designed to facilitate sharing for physical infrastructure.